20K tonnes of pulses, 1.83L litres of palm oil procured: MK Stalin

Chennai: The opposition DMK attempted to pin down the ruling AIADMK on the issue of shortage of pulses and palm oil distributed through fair price shops during a high voltage debate in the Assembly on Monday. However, refuting an allegation that the distribution of these essentials through the PDS has been hit, food minister R. Kamaraj said the government has procured about 20,000 tonnes of pulses besides 1.83 lakh litres of palm oil to be distributed to ration cardholders.

Stating that all family cardholders would get pulses and edible oil from ration shops unhindered,. Kamaraj said the even before the Centre has brought the National Food Security Act, the Tamil Nadu government has been distributing free rice to ration cardholders.

The trouble arose when DMK legislator T. Senguttuvan, while participating in a debate, drew the attention of the House to DMK's agitation and said that the distribution of pulses and edible oil through the FP shops have been affected due to lack of supply of these commodities. While replying, Kamaraj referred to the DMK's behaviour in the House. Immediately, leader of the Opposition and DMK working president M. K. Stalin, stood up, and demanded an explanation from the minister.

"Your members thumped the benches when he (former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam) entered the House. Is this not enough?"  Kamaraj asked. At this,. Stalin remarked, "the AIADMK members thumped the benches wherever the name of an accused was mentioned."

Continuing the debate,  Senguttuvan sought to know whether the state government would continue to distribute sugar through the ration shops when the Centre withdraws subsidy next month. To this, the ninister replied, "it will not be stopped on any account."

Min assures to fulfill Stalin’s demands on Kolathur hospital

Health minister C. Vijayabaskar on Monday assured to fulfill the demand of leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin to improve the facilities and fill the vacancies in medical staff in the Periyar Nagar hospital in Kolathur constituency.

Replying to Stalin in the Assembly, the minister said the government had allocated funds for the hospital for infrastructure facilities and the existing vacancies in the medical staff soon. He said about 1,200 medical staff would be recruited and appointed in various government hospitals in the state soon and the Periyar Nagar hospital would be given priority in filling vacancies.

Earlier, raising the issue during the question hour, Stalin said about 1,300 outpatients are getting treated in the hospital every day and it is a special hospital for contagious diseases.  About 80 to 85 patients are staying in the hospital for treatment, he said and added that he had given Rs. five lakh from his constituency development fund for solar power.

The DMK working president said he had visited the hospital many times and people are demanding the construction of a compound wall and an ambulance for the hospital. He also requested the government to renovate the doctor and nurses quarters soon.